International Wine Challenge, Wine Merchant of the Year 2012 : WINNERS!

Chile

3000 miles long and barely 6 grape varieties wide, Chile continues to present amazing value for money due to relatively low land and labour costs and a weak currency. Chile’s wine culture is firmly French in origin (as are it’s grape varieties), established long ago by émigré French vignerons seeking new vineyard land beyond Europe. Carmenere is the signature red – chunky and savoury in a Claret style, though Pinots are increasingly good, and very well priced. For whites, Sauvignon Blanc is increasingly good; they seem to be setting on a nice lean fresh, nettle-and-lemon style, quite different from NZ’s pungent beasts, and well-priced.